NAPLES - ■ This is one of several stories about Collier School Board candidates on the fall ballot..

Pat Carroll doesn't necessarily need a third term as a member of the Collier County School Board.

"It's hard. It's unpleasant at times," she said. "But I have seen the successes. That's what makes me want to continue. It's what makes it worthwhile."

Carroll is seeking a third term as District 1 board member, running against former Naples High School Principal Rosanne Winter and retired businessman Eric Cox.

District 1 encompasses East Naples and Marco Island, but Collier County School Board members are elected by voters countywide in nonpartisan races for four-year terms. The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 24.

When you ask her about the successes she's seen in her past two terms, Carroll immediately speaks about career education and the Collier County School District's support of the Lorenzo Walker Technical Institute and Career and Technical High School, and the Immokalee Technical Center.

"I am just really proud of what's being accomplished there," she said, tears in her eyes. "It started with me."

Carroll said she believes that career education will need a champion now more than ever.

"Senate Bill 4 will make it harder for kids to take career education classes as electives. That will impact our academies," she said. "I think career education needs an advocate ... And I see our technical program not just training kids, but furthering what they want to do in life."

Carroll said she would like to see the district put an emphasis on combining coursework with reading and math.

"We pigeonhole our curriculum," she said. "We do straight reading and math. But there is nothing that says that we can't include reading curriculum and math curriculum in our business courses, in our criminal justice courses."

Carroll said she has been an advocate of high school reform. And while the process has been slower than she would like, she is pleased with some of the results.

"Our freshmen academies have been very successful," she said. "Our principals are focusing on (adequate yearly progress, a benchmark of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation). We have a good start."

Carroll said she would like to look at high school start times. She said research shows that having a 7:15 or 7:30 a.m. start time adversely affects the students.

"I think we have been letting social issues drive academics," she said. "We have heard that starting later would have an impact on clubs or sports. But many schools that start later have clubs or weight training before school."

Carroll, who has served as the legislative liaison for the board for many years, said she would like to continue her role, lobbying with the Legislature.

"There is a disconnect between the education community and the state Legislature. I would like to fix that," she said.

Carroll, who has been asked to serve on an state ad hoc committee to develop a plan on teacher tenure and performance pay, said Collier County needs to stop being told what to do and to become part of the solution.

"With something like performance pay _ I want to put it out to teachers and have the teachers come up with the program. No program is not an option. So what do you want?" she said.

At a debate in Golden Gate last week, Carroll acknowledged there is a culture of fear and intimidation in the district under Superintendent Dennis Thompson.

"I don't believe that will change under this administration," she said. "It is Dr. Thompson's leadership style. I don't like it. In fact, it breaks my heart."

Carroll, who didn't vote to bring Thompson to Naples, said it is up to the current board to hold the superintendent accountable for that in his review.

Carroll believes her experience on the board counts for something.

"We need a person who can see the big picture. A person who can connect things between the district and the community," she said. "People have told me over and over again that I am the voice of reason and a stable force on the board."

Carroll said she is tired of the chaos.

"I think we have some stability and civility on the School Board now. I desperately want to see that continue," she said.